Butter-cutting machine



. R. A. SIMPSON. l

' BUTTER CUTTING'MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I9, 192|- 1,434,920. Patent/ed Nov. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. A. SIMPSON. BUTTER lCUTTING MACHINE.

APPL|CAT| 0N FILED JAN. I9, 192|.

mmm@ muted Nov. 7,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922..

Unirse STA-rss RUFUS A. SIMPSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

. TVT BUTTER-CUTTING MAcHrNE.

Application led January 19, 1921. Serial No. 438,4Q5. y

To all 107mm 'it' may concern.'

Be it known that l, RUrUs A. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city `of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in butter cutting machines and more particularly to that type of machine which has a movable cutting head carrying cutting wires which are advanced longitudinally into a massof butter. In cutters of this character', the head is provided witha number of spaced crossed wires which make the vertical and horizontal longitudinal cuts.` These wires require considerable effort to force them into the mass of butter and my present invention aims to secure a more eiiiective means for advancing the head but which at the same time allows .the latter to move rapidly in the opposite direction after the butter has been cut,

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the weight of blocks ci cutbutter may be more accurately regulated than in the present style of butter cutters which depend on securing the correct weight by cut-ting the butter 'to given dimensions. Vith machines of the type herein illustrated, it is possible by eX- erting av pressure on the cutter head to compress the butter to such an extent that when the prints are cut off there is a considerable variation in weight.v

.Another diiiiculty with the present cutter is that on the releasing 0f the cutting head the butter assumes its uncompressed condition whereby the face of the uncut block or" butter is slightly forced back past the plane of the cut-ofi' wire so that on the upward movement of the latter athin shaving is taken off of t-he face of the packed butter. My present invention has as another object the elimination of the above mentioned defect by enabling the same pressure to be exerted on thel uncut block of butter each time the head is advanced so that when once the required movement is secured for a given weight, this weight may be accurately `maintained- A V Vith these 4and other objects in viewmy invention consists in certain novel' features of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and more specically pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction ywithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of theV advantages thereof.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this spicciication:

` Figure l is a view in end elevation of the cutter head and receiving Atable which is movableftherewith showing lmy invention applied thereon.

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation.

Figure i is an enlarged sectional lView through the driving and locking mechanism for the cutter head.

Figure 5 is a view in section on the line 5 5 igure 2. y

Figure 6 is a b'ottomplan View `of the receiving table.

Figure 7 is a view in section on the line 7-7 of Figure 2 llookingin the direction of thearrows. i' t Referring to corresponding parts :in the several views by the same numerals of reference: my invention comprises a table consisting of the side members 1 which are supportedon legs 2. Attached to the upper surface of the'side members l are tooth rack bars 3 and a guide bar l which slightly overhangs the inner face of the angles l, and on which ismovably mounted the cutting 'head denoted in general by A. The latter comprises a rectangular frame 6' the lower member of which is attached to angles 7 whichfextend parallel to Jthe side bars l. Mounted Von these angles to the rear of the `cutter head frame are brackets 8' in which is secured -a ncn-revolvable sleeve 9.` Bevolvably mounted in the latter is a `shaft 10 to which are "secured toothedpinions ll which mesh with the rack bars 3 and by their rotation ymoves the cutter `head in a'fo'rward or rearward direction.

Keyed to the shaft l0 is a disc 12, to the inner :face of which is pivotally mounted toothed pinions 13.v Disc l2 is revolvably mounted pwithin' a ynon-rotatable 'disc 14 which is-held in 'a fixed position by laterinclinan ing as a guide for the cutter head and tilting table.

0n the side of the trame 6 are vertical gibs 72 on which is slidably mounted the blocks 78. These blocks have off-set portions 74 which extend in front of the side bars of the frame and are provided with tensioning devices 75 `for the cutting-oli wire 74. This wire extends from one block 73 to the opposite one and by its tension serves to hold the sliding blocks on the gibs. The blocks are moved by means of linlrs 75 which are pivotally mounted therein and have their other ends pivotally connected to the lever arms 76. The latter are pivotally mounted on the upper cross bar of trame 6 near the center thereof and are provided with connecting segmental gears 77 so that the two arms move in unison. The guide blocks have upwardly extending arms 78 that are connected across their upper end by means oit` a linlr 79. One of the connecting links 75 has a lug 80 for contact with the disengaging lever 8l, the latter being pivotally mounted in the arm 86. One end of the lever 8l is engaged by the lug just mentioned while the other end extends under the weighted arm 88 so that when the cut-off wire descends the lever 81 is moved to throw the weighted arm upwardly and thus release the pawls from the ratchet.

In front of the frame@ and held therein is a wire frame 82 having cross wires 83 for the purpose oi' dividing the block of butter iny a .longitudinal direction. @n the for.. wardly projecting arms i3 oi" the tilting frame is mounted a removable butter receiving board 44. To hold this board in position, I attach members 85 to the under side of. the board,` these membersl lying adjacent the arms and serving to position the board laterally in the frame. Clips 85 extend from these members over the arms and have screws '86 which when tightened, clamp the board on the arms and yet permit its easy removal byv slightly releasing the holding screws. This construction is desirable in as much as the wooden parts of the machine require to be frequently cleaned and soakedy in strong brine. For this purpose they must be removed from the machine and the construction'herein described allows this to be quickly and conveniently accomplished. The construction also enables the board to be moved towards the rear end of the cutting frame so that only a very small slot is left therebetween for the travel of the cut-oit wire. By keeping this slot of a width not much greater than the diameter of the cutoii" wire, prevents wasteof but-ter due to the breaking out of the lower edge when the cut ting wire is driven through the block.

A. block of butter is denoted by 87 and in use the cutting frame is advanced towards this block ot butter by turning the cra-nk handles 2l in the direction oit the arrow in Figure 3. rlihis causes the clutch teeth 23 and 26 to disengage and the teeth 22 and 24 to engage. Shaft 10 is then driven through pinions 19 and 13 to 18 and disc ll. The pinions ll engage the raclc bars and thus move the iframes A and B to the right as viewed in Figure `3. es the frame is advanced the crossed wires out through the butter 87 and the latter slides on. to the bottom board lill. The ends of these cut sections then come in contact with the off-bearing boarr s 88, an l Jurther movement of the handles cause the butter to exert a pressure on the sub-iframe.V This pressure is sulicicient to somewhat compress the butter and if the amount of compression varies for the different cut-off operations then the `weight will correspondingly vary and the different prints of butter will have diiierent weights. To overcome this7 is the object oimy i ventionj by providing that the pressure exerted each time will be uniform. After the butter comes in contact with the off-bearing boards of the sub-frame, the continued movement or Ithe crank handles causes the sub-frame to be pushed rearwardly and the sleeve Q29 to slide in the hub 50. This' movement correspondingly moves the lever 541. so tha" its outervend which is normally in contact with the arm 57 is released `therefrom and allows the weight to move the pawl into contact withthe ratchet. Thus the pawl only contacts with the :ratchet during the time o' Vfinal movement of the operating cranlr. The movement of the lever is resisted by the spring 6l and the amount of movement is indicated by the j )ointcr 62 and in use the operating handles are turned each tinie'until this pointer is opposite the indicating marit The lever` l is in eiiect a scale arm to weigh the pres sure which is exerted against the butter. If any adjustment is required, it may be made by turning the wheel 52 so aste change the relative position of the sub-iranie or by laterallyi adjusting the index ringer 62.

i ln the past l have il'ound a tendency on the part of the cutter head to move baclrwardly due to several causes., including the compressive action or the butter ie bowing action of the 1 ire-s. These wires are in high degree of tension and are bowed ,vaclrwardly as the head is at vanced so that 'fl en the handles are released, the tendency of this bow .in the wire is o return. the head slight distance in a rearward direction. This is cverconie by `the pawls engaging the ratchet 8l. so tl at when the handles are treed in order to operate the cutting olii wird the entire head and associated parts are firmly held in position. When the index ringer has been brought to its correct position. the levers 76 are moved in downward direction causing the links 75 to slide the blocks 73 4doivnuard position of thl fait-oil7 vire,

downwardly on their Aruidos and iv cut ofi the prints of butter. it the feine :trame and the cut-o? head a sl''ht amount in rearward direccion. Vhe ci J table is then released by lifting up on lever 9a andv tilting it in renna/"ard direction to allow the cut-othutter to removed. Cutoff vfire 74: is then raised, releasi lever 8l and allowing the pawls to drop. l* the tiltingv table is restored haelt i latch 9T the end ot the lever e contacts with arm 5T and lifts the parvis. The head maj.T then he freelv moved in either d'rection Without interference hvthe ratchet. n

i/When the heads to he moved rearwardly, the handles are turned in the opposite direction from the arrow in Figure 8, which action causes the teeth 22 and 2li; to slide out of engagement and the other set into contact.

Trlwing thus described my invention, claim as new and Wish to cover by Letters Patent:

l. A butter cutter, comprising. in combination, a movable head, a dr ng shaft therefor, a planetary gear system on said shaft, a drive pinion :tor said system, an operating crank adapted for engagement with either the pinion or the att said crank provided with normally ino aerative ratchet mechanism, means adapted to throiv the ratchet mechanism into action hv the pressure of the head against the hutter. p

2. A butter cutter, comprising, in eomhh nation, a head, a cut-off mechanism, a drive shaft for moving the head against the hutter, a normally inoperative ratchet mechanism for holdingthe shaft from reverse movement, means operable by the pressure o'r' the head against the butter for throwng the ratchet mechanism into action, means it when )ei'ahle oy the cut-oli mechanism ,for releasing the ratchet mechanism.

3. il. butter cutter, comprising, a cutter head movable against the butter, a follower gauge hoard or'contacting and receiving the cut butter, and means for indicating when said gauge hoard exerts a given pressure against the butter.

si. A 1cutter cutter, comprising, a cutter head, driving,` means for moving` said head against the butter, a follower gauge hoard limiting,` the movement of the head With respect to the cutter, indicating means for hovving a uniform pressure against the gauge hoard, and ratchet means tor holding said driving,` means When the desired'presn sure is reached. r

5. fi butter cutter, comprising, in a .cutter head, a cut-of2V device,` driving means for moving said head against the butter, a follower gauge board for limiting the movement of the head With respect to the butter, indicating means tor showing a unito-rm pressure against the gauge hoard, ratchet means ior holdingsaid driving means when .the desired pressure is reached, and means operable by the cut-oit device for releasing the ratchet mechanism. l

6. A butter cutter, comprising, a cutter head, a tilting; receiving table, agauge board carfied hy the table, a compression spring for holding,r the board in an extended position, a pressure indicator operable-by the backward movement of the hoard caused by the butter contacting therewith and reacting against the compression ci said spring, and a receiving platiiorm carried by said table, and means detachahlv and adjustahly securthe platform to the table.

7. In a butter cutter, a. tilting table adapted to support an adjustable sub-trame and a Y gre hoard, the latter adapted to hear against the sub-trame for operating the pressure indicating` means for the purpose set forth.

In testimon7 whereof aliix mv signature.

`RUFUS A. SIMPSON. 

